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Five must-see places in Arizona

Travelers from around the world come to see the Grand Canyon, but Arizona has so much more to offer visitors. Scott Craven of The Arizona Republic shares inside tips on five must-see places in the state.

The bronze sculpture of a dashing rider by Solon Borglum on Courthouse Plaza honors the Rough Riders who fought in the Spanish-American War. Locally, it is known simply as the statue of Bucky O'Neill. Prescott Tourism

The Hopi village of Walpi, perched atop a 300-foot-tall mesa in northeastern Arizona, has been occupied by the Hopis since around 1100. The last full-time residents moved out last year, but families maintain homes for the frequent ceremonies that take place there. Jayne Clark/USA Today

Travelers from around the world come to see the Grand Canyon, but Arizona has so much more to offer visitors. Scott Craven of The Arizona Republic shares inside tips on five must-see places in the state.

Grand Canyon National Park

When it came to creating the perfect license-plate slogan, Arizona officials likely needed all of 20 seconds to agree on "Grand Canyon State" (and making a mockery of Idaho's slogan, "Famous Potatoes").

Why: Hmm, let's see. Maybe because it's one of the scenic wonders of the world? Or because some people spend thousands of dollars to get there, while you live a tank of gas away?

Money best spent: Head to the El Tovar Lounge. Order drinks and appetizers, and enjoy an amazing sunset while chuckling at the sunburned, sweat-stained visitors returning to the rim after seriously overestimating their physical abilities.

Fun fact: Broadband Internet connections are rare along the South Rim. That's why many of the park's 3,000 employees head to the library, rec center or hotels, where the most reliable Wi-Fi hotspots operate.

Oddity: In Tusayan, just outside the park entrance, an IMAX theater for years has been showing The Grand Canyon — Hidden Secrets. I found this description on the official website: "A giant six-story movie screen and over 12,000 watts of digital surround sound allows visitors to literally experience the Grand Canyon, throughout time, as if they were actually there." Of you could "literally" be "actually there" in another 20 minutes.

Selfie moment: There is no wrong place to take a selfie as long as the Canyon is in the background. Try Mather Point for its scenery (a peninsula of rock offering 180-degree views) and convenience (a short walk from the visitor center).

Don't miss: If you are lucky enough to visit during a full moon, enjoy the sunset and stroll along the rim for an hour or so. The top half of the cliffs dimly glows, and the bottom half of the Canyon disappears into inky blackness. Every now and then you'll see a faint flicker from far below, the flashlights and headlamps of night hikers or campers preparing to settle in.

Learn about pistol and rifle shooting from the Single Action Shooting Society.
azcentral.com

Tombstone

Imagine the 1880s frozen in time, where tough-looking men wearing dusters fit right in. The frontier facades are largely original, the souvenir T-shirts, mugs and refrigerator magnets are not. Still, there is an Old West charm found nowhere else.

Why: It is the perfect blend of historical and tacky. Visit the OK Corral and Historama to hear Vincent Price's dramatic retelling of the shootout, then have a beer (or root beer) at a frontier bar.

Money best spent: $10 to see the Bird Cage Theater Museum, a former brothel that has been preserved, not restored (as guides remind visitors). The tattered nature of the museum is as endearing as it is honest. It's OK when something shows its age.

Fun fact: Despite its Wild West image, Tombstone had strict gun laws at the turn of the 20th century. People were required to turn in firearms when entering town.

Oddity: The Town Too Tough to Die has what it claims is the world's largest rosebush. After watching actors gun one another down, pluck a flower for your loved one.

Selfie moment: Pose with the dummies at the OK Corral. Be sure to tag Wyatt Earp and the others.

Don't miss: Boot Hill, a graveyard for those who were not too tough to die. Going to Tombstone without seeing Boot Hill would be like visiting Maine and not eating lobster.

If the United States held an America's Best Hometown contest, Arizona's entry would likely be Prescott. It has all the requisites: quaint downtown (Courthouse Square), area committed to adult beverages (Whiskey Row) and exuberant small-town celebrations (Christmas and Fourth of July are particularly popular).

Why: The town has charm as well as a more amenable summer climate, when temperatures can be 15-20 degrees cooler than the Valley's.

Money best spent: For $5, you can own a Bill's Grill T-shirt featuring an asymmetrical being of indeterminate gender wearing a hat and carrying a burger. The food is pretty darn good, too. (333 S. Montezuma St., billsgrillprescott.com).

Fun fact: From 1881 to 1884, Prescott served as the territorial capitol. It was just enough time to build a governor's mansion, now part of the Sharlot Hall Museum. Go see what constituted a governor's home in those days.

Oddity: Some visitors to the Sharlot Hall Museum believe it's named for a hall, not a person. Sharlot Hall was a reporter and poet who, in 1909, was named territorial historian. Her collection of photos, documents and other artifacts formed the basis of the museum's archives.

Selfie moment: Should snow accumulate in downtown Prescott between Thanksgiving and Christmas, position yourself in Courthouse Square and be sure to include some of the thousands of lights illuminating the trees and courthouse. Outside of that special time, station yourself at either end of the 100 block of South Montezuma Street at sundown to capture Whiskey Row's good side behind you.

Don't miss: Take an afternoon to explore the Granite Dells, where furrowed stone forms a series of undulating waves. Several trails weave through the formations. If dialing 9-1-1 is not on your to-do list, resist urges to climb a tumble of boulders.

You've seen it on TV and in theaters. You can't look at the towering rock formations without thinking of John Wayne, cattle drives or insensitive portrayals of Native Americans. But you know what's even better than seeing Monument Valley on the big screen? No, not IMAX.

Why: Two words: endless vista. The minute you see the Mitten formations, you understand why everything from Westerns to Roadrunner cartoons were shot (or drawn from) here.

Money best spent: The $159 (or more) for a room at the View, one of the most aptly named hotels ever (and the only hotel inside the park). Steep for such a remote location? You'll understand when you watch sunset, get a restful sleep and be up in plenty of time to watch the sunrise.

Fun fact: Monument Valley straddles the Arizona-Utah state line, but its best parts are in Arizona.

Oddity: It's hard to picture Monument Valley without thinking of John Wayne, who is responsible for hundreds of on-screen Native American casualties. Still, the Navajo-run trading post inside the View sells a wide selection of Wayne-based gifts, including Stetsons, leather vests and photos. It also offers a much wider selection of Navajo arts and crafts.

Selfie moment: There are an estimated 340 spots along the 17-mile scenic drive for the perfect Monument Valley selfie. The truly self-obsessed may well exceed the 20-selfies-per-mile average. I prefer the shot of the two Mittens from the visitor center, but there is no such thing as a bad selfie here.

Don't miss: Several companies offer guided tours, but if you don't have the time or the money, the 17-mile drive is a great way to take in the park. (Admission is $20 per vehicle.) Take your time, as well as advantage of the overlooks. Traffic can be an unavoidable drawback, especially if you're following a tour bus. Resist your John Wayne urges (jumping on top of the bus, making your way to the driver's seat, commandeering it) and pull off for a while. Hey look, it's another spectacular view.

The ancient village on the Hopi Reservation first appears as if a natural part of the stony ridge 300 feet above the valley floor. Walpi is one of North America's oldest continuously inhabited villages. Or so many people believe. More on that later.

Why: Walpi offers a rare insight into Hopi life as well as unmatched vistas. It is an authentic, only-in-Arizona experience, rich in culture and history.

Money best spent: Hopi artists are happy to engage visitors, displaying pots, jewelry and more on small tables. The handcrafted items are by no means cheap, given the talent and time needed to create them. But you will save money by dealing directly with the artists, rather than buying in stores or galleries elsewhere. About 20 years ago I passed up the opportunity to purchase a kachina carving for $75 and regret it to this day.

Fun fact: Some Walpi residents live much as their ancestors did, without electricity or running water.

Oddity: There is disagreement as to the oldest continuously inhabited community in the United States. Hopis believe Walpi dates to 900, making it older than Acoma Pueblo in New Mexico. But inhabitants of Acoma, which dates to 1150, believe people lived there before that date, making theirs the oldest.

Selfie moment: Be respectful of the people, the culture and the land. Ask permission from tour guides before you start framing your shots.

Don't miss: Living in the moment. Turn off the phone, tuck it in your pocket and enjoy a rare glimpse into the past.